I'm in the process of building a new PC for gaming and am trying to decide whether to install Linux on this PC but am not sure if I can do what I want. Any advice would be helpful.

Firstly, this PC is a 3GHz P4, 2Gb RAM, 250Gb HD (Seagate maybe), 256MB Nvidia Geforce FX 5950, 19" Multisync Monitor. I have a copy of SUSE 10.0 which I will install. Internet connection is a 15Mb/sec Fibre.

Can I use the Linux machine as a print server, I have a Lexmark X7170 all in one which I will connect to the Linux box and need to be able to print from the Windows PC, also, would I be able to scan from both or would that cause problems.

I was also considering using the Linux PC as a mail server, connecting to my verizon email account downloading all mails and then connecting to the Linux box from the Windows PC to retieve emails. Would this be over complicating things. My Linux/Unix skill are very basic but I flet this would be a good way to improve them.

Yes.....go for it. You can easily do this with Ubuntu Linux. It is easy to set up, the networking features are easy to use, and it is by far the best Distro I have used....And I have tried a bunch before this one. There is also tons of support for it.

I would personally NOT upgrade the hardware [of an old PC]. Instead, I would upgrade the operating system (OS) to something like Peanut Linux, Small Linux or even Corel Linux. These distributions will make an old Pentium 'sing a new song.' There are several small downloadable versions of the Linux OS that are geared at older and ailing Pentium/486/386 class of computers.